I remember back in the day when I was afraid to dress the way I wanted to. The fear of judgement by my peers was crushing, and I was hindered. My style also suffered – I think if I just dressed the way I wanted to I would ultimately have looked much better – just taking a look at the photos from my junior high and high school career are proof of that. I have since learned that just dressing the way I feel like is a much more powerful statement and also comes off as more natural.

Things that have definitely helped me to shape my own style are the influence of my friends as well as online portals such as Tumblr and Pinterest. I mean, there is just SO much style advice that you can glean from browsing Tumblr. You get access to so many photos at once, and so many different styles. I particularly like to browse the themed blogs that people have up, such as action sports and skateboarding.
Another way to get fashion advice and ideas is through online fashion blogs and look books. It’s a pain if you’re at a cafe with a slow internet connection, but I digress. One thing I really like to do is to bookmark all these blogs and sites and browse through them on my lunch break with my iPad.

The other thing that is so great about using the internet for fashion advice is that there is such a huge range of styles. From high fashion to gay fashion, to everything in between. There’s something for everyone, and 1000 Tumblr blogs for each taste and sub fashion niche.

Having easy access to these inspiration sources is also helpful for people who want to buy what they see right away using the internet and online shopping resources. It’s so easy to use these sources to find small brands that are creating trendy new stuff that you know you won’t see ten other people wearing when you go out (I have this problem with a lot of big store items such as things from H&M. I hate it when someone is wearing my shirt at the same party!).

Online shopping makes it easy to have your own unique style and break away from the crowd. The thing about online shopping, however, is that you really need to be careful who you do business with. Make sure that the online store you’re buying from has the appropriate amount of online security for their site. You can find more information about online computer security programs such as Spyhunter 4 and Norton 360 from several blogs. It’s very important to educate yourself about the risks, and be vigilant about checking on your credit card bills.

Overall I really find that the internet has helped me to expand my scope in terms of being creative with my own personal style and having fun with it. It’s cool to stand out and have your own personal “calling card” of sorts in terms of what you wear. I want to stand out from the crowd a bit, but look good doing so.